Remote Climate Consultancy to Strengthen Climate Adaptation Programme Positioning and Readiness for Future Climate Funding

Background

Concern recognises climate change as a significant driver of poverty, inequality and humanitarian need. Concern's Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Policy (2026–2035) and Organisational Strategy commit the organisation to ensuring all programmes are climate-sensitive, while strengthening climate adaptation and resilience where climate risks are a significant driver of vulnerability. Concern also aims to strengthen its capacity to secure climate funding to support locally led adaptation and resilience-building efforts.

Many Concern country programmes are already delivering interventions that contribute to climate adaptation—including resilient livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, climate-informed health and nutrition, WASH and natural resource management. However, these programmes are not always explicitly designed or positioned as climate adaptation programmes, limiting opportunities to access dedicated climate funding.

This consultancy will support four selected country programmes to strengthen climate adaptation thinking, programme conceptualisation and programme positioning for future climate funding. Through facilitated workshops, technical coaching and programme design support, the consultant will help country teams identify climate adaptation opportunities within existing programmes, strengthen programme logic using appropriate design tools, and develop practical recommendations to improve readiness for future climate funding opportunities.

For the purpose of this consultancy, climate funding refers to dedicated climate finance mechanism, as well as institutional and foundation led donor opportunities where climate adaptation and resilience are central programme objectives.

Concern will select four priority countries before the consultancy begins. The consultancy will focus on Foundation and Emerging Readiness country programmes where targeted support is expected to strengthen climate adaptation thinking, programme conceptualisation and future readiness for climate funding.

Purpose and objective

This consultancy will support four countries to develop and strengthen programme designs and interventions in order to pre-position for climate funding, through a combination of facilitated reflection, programme review, workshops, targeted technical coaching, training and practical recommendations. The consultancy will support country teams to identify priority programme concepts and strengthen programme logic for future funding opportunities.

Methodology and core support

• Programme review and climate adaptation opportunities

The consultant will work with each selected country programme to reviewing existing programmes, identify interventions and good practices with relevance to climate adaptation and resilience, and explore opportunities to strengthen climate adaptation thinking and future climate funding potential. This process will help country teams identify and prioritise programme areas with the greatest potential for future development.

The consultant will:

• Review existing programme experience, strategic priorities and emerging ideas.

• Identify interventions and good practices that contribute to climate adaptation and resilience

• Facilitate discussion to identify opportunities to strengthen climate adaptation thinking across existing programmes and prioritise those with the greatest potential for future climate funding

• Programme conceptualisation and positioning

Building on the programme review, the consultant will support country teams to strengthen programme design, articulate a clearer climate adaptation rationale and improve programme positioning for future climate funding opportunities. Through facilitated workshops, targeted coaching and practical technical guidance, the consultancy will strengthen country teams’ capacity to apply climate adaptation concepts and programme design approaches beyond the consultancy.

The consultant will:

• facilitated workshops and programme discussions

• provide targeted coaching, technical advice and practical learning on climate adaptation programme design

• support programme conceptualisation using appropriate programme design tools (e.g. objective trees, theories of change or results chains)

• strengthen programme logic, climate adaptation framing and programme positioning.

• Recommendations and roadmap

The consultant will work with each country team to translate the outputs of the consultancy into practical recommendations and a clear roadmap for strengthening programme quality and future readiness for climate funding beyond the consultancy period.

The consultant will:

• Provide practical recommendations to strengthen climate adaptation approaches and programme positioning, specific to the local context

• Identify priority programme concepts for future development

• Identify future climate funding pathways, in collaboration with the Climate and DRR Unit and Fundraising where appropriate

• Develop a practical roadmap outlining priority next steps for each country team.

The consultancy will be delivered in close collaboration with the Climate and DRR Unit and Fundraising teams. Where possible, activities will be co-facilitated with members of the Climate and DRR Unit to strengthen internal capacity. Throughout the consultancy, the consultant will capture and document practical approaches, programme design tools and decision-making processes that can be adapted and reused across Concern's wider climate adaptation portfolio.

Scope of work / Key deliverables

The consultant is expected to:

• Deliver tailored workshops and programme conceptualisation sessions for four country programmes.

• Review existing programmes and identify interventions, approaches and good practices with relevance to climate adaptation and resilience.

• Support country teams to strengthen programme conceptualisation and programme design using appropriate tools (e.g. objective trees, theories of change, results chains or other programme design approaches).

• Strengthen programme logic, climate adaptation framing and programme positioning for future climate funding opportunities.

• Produce country-specific recommendations and roadmaps outlining priority programme concepts, actions and next steps to strengthen climate adaptation programming and readiness for future climate funding.

• Work with the Climate and DRR Unit and Fundraising teams, where appropriate, to validate programme positioning and identify priority funding pathways.

• Facilitate a final learning workshop with participating country teams, the Climate and DRR Unit and Fundraising to share lessons learned and recommendations.

• Produce a final report summarising:

• key findings across the four countries

• practical approaches, programme design tools and methodologies tested during the consultancy

• common lessons and good practices

• recommendations for scaling and replicating the approach across other Concern country programmes

Duration

The consultancy is expected to require approximately 18–20 consultancy days, delivered remotely over a 7 - 8 week period between early August and the end of September 2026. The final schedule will be agreed based on the consultant's proposed workplan, availability and Concern's operational priorities. Each participating country should expect approximately four days of consultant support, delivered through a combination of preparation, facilitated workshops, technical coaching and follow-up support.

Reporting and management

The consultant will report to Michael Mulpeter, Senior Adviser: Climate Adaptation and DRR, working closely with:

• Technical advisers

• Fundraising teams

• Regional Directors (RDs) and Country Directors (CDs)

• Programme teams

The consultancy will be delivered remotely. Regular check-ins will be held to review progress and adjust focus as needed.

Required expertise

• Experience designing and implementing climate adaptation and resilience programmes in fragile and conflict affected contexts.

• Demonstrated experience with major climate finance mechanisms (e.g. GCF, Adaptation Fund, Loss and Damage Fund, IKI)

• Experience in concept note and proposal development for institutional donors

• Strong understanding of climate adaptation, resilience, and DRR programming

• Experience working with NGOs and/or in fragile and climate-vulnerable contexts

• Strong remote facilitation and communication skills

• Fluency in French

Data Protection: During this recruitment and selection process, you will provide Concern with your personal data. Concern takes its responsibilities towards this personal data very seriously and is committed to complying with all relevant data protection legislation. Concern uses this information to consider your suitability for this position and may contact you to call you for an interview. Your data may be shared internally to consider this application. Concern will store your data securely.

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy . These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission . Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract . By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being engaged as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, which may include criminal background checking .